Are you wondering what to do with an overwatered snake plant? If yes, then we can help you with this. Just read this article, and you will get all you need to solve this problem.
Many succulents, such as snake plants, are vulnerable to water damage. As they get wet, their roots lose strength, which may lead to several problems. The roots can become waterlogged, and this can cause them to rot. Overwatering can also encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can damage the plant.
But If you’ve overwatered your snake plant, don’t despair! There are a few things you can do to save it. Read on to discover how to dry this plant and give it a new life.
How Do I Dry an Overwatered Snake Plant?
To dry an overwatered snake plant start by moving it to a dry area to eliminate the excess moisture. After that, remove the plant from the original pot and check if there are any damaged roots or leaves, then cut them. Finally, take the plant back to the original pot if it has drainage holes or repots it into a new one that guarantees adequate drainage.
Here is a detailed step-by-step process that you can follow to dry an overwatered snake plant:
1. Stop watering: When a snake plant is overwatered, the roots cannot get the oxygen they need from the soil, leading to root rot. If you keep watering the plant, you may kill all the roots. That’s why you must stop watering your snake plant immediately before moving to the next step.
2. Bring the Plant Into a Dry Area: this will help the plant get rid of the excess moisture as quickly as possible.
3. Remove the Plant from The Old Pot and Check the Drainage: The best way to remove a snake plant is to loosen the root ball by gently squeezing the pot and then turning it upside down. The plant should then slide out easily. If the plant is stuck, you can try running a knife around the edge of the pot. After that, you should check if the drainage is suitable for the snake plant. When the drainage is not optimal, you should change the pot.
4. Remove the Soil in The Bottom of The Plant to Check the Roots: To check for root rot, carefully remove your snake plant from its pot and inspect the roots. If the roots are brown and mushy, the plant has root rot. This step is crucial because root rot will cause your plant to have yellow or brown leaves and stunted growth. The plant may also have a musty smell.
5. Get Rid of Any Damaged Roots by Pruning Them Out: The roots of your snake plant can be pruned to eliminate any damaged roots. This can be done using a sharp knife or shears to cut away the damaged root. It is essential to ensure that only the damaged roots should be removed, not the healthy ones.
6. Get Rid of Dead Leaves by Trimming Them Away: To get rid of dead leaves from your snake plant, trim them away with a sharp knife or pruning shears. Cut the leaves off at the base, as close to the stem as possible. If the leaves are enormous, you may need to cut them into smaller pieces before disposing them.
7. Put the Plant in A Suitable Pot: In this step, you can bring the plant back to the original pot if it has good drainage and still fit the plant. Otherwise, repot your snake plant into a new pot and expose it to bright indirect sunlight. Then, check the soil regularly and water your plant only when the soil feels dry. Within a few weeks, you will start seeing new growth in your snake plant.
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How to Prevent Overwatering Your Snake Plant?
To avoid over-watering your snake plant, it is essential to check the soil before watering. If the soil is dry, it is time to water the plant. The plant does not need to be watered if the soil is moist.
Another way to check the soil before watering your snake plant is to use a moister meter. All you have to do is to insert the moister meter’s probe into the soil and wait for the needle to move. When the needle indicates that the soil is dry, it is time to water the plant.
Lastly, ensure you do not allow your Plant to sit in water for too long. At least once a week, remove the Plant from its container and allow it to air dry for at least 15 minutes.
Overwatering is the number one enemy of houseplants, especially for rookie gardeners who lack patience and want everything to happen quickly. Generally, novice gardeners provide their plants with maximum water and fertilizers and wait for them to thrive within a few days. But this leads only to disasters.
When plants receive too much water, the roots cannot get the oxygen they need from the soil. This can lead to root rot, which can kill the Plant. Additionally, overwatering can leach nutrients from the soil, making them unavailable to the Plant. Too much water can also encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can damage the Plant.
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How Do I Know if My Snake Plant Is Overwatered?
To know if your snake plant is overwatered, start by checking the leaves. If you find any brown or yellow spots, your Plant is most probably overwatered. Also, if the Plant looks wilted and experiences slow growth, this is another sign of root rot. Finally, you can check the roots of your Plant. If you see that they are rooted, then overwatering is confirmed.
Here is a complete list of overwatering signs for snake plants and an explanation of each one of them:
The Plant will experience root rot: Overwatering causes root rot by saturating the soil and preventing oxygen from reaching the roots. This can lead to fungal growth and the eventual death of the Plant.
Yellow spots In The Lowest Part of The Leaves: When a plant is overwatered, the roots cannot get the oxygen they need from the soil. This causes the leaves to turn yellow and eventually die.
The Plant Starts to Look Wilted: Overwatering a plant can cause it to look wilted because the roots are oversaturated and can’t get the oxygen they need. The leaves may also droop because they are losing water faster than the roots can take it in.
The Plant will experience slow growth or stop growing: When a plant is overwatered, the roots cannot get the oxygen they need from the soil. This makes the Plant grow slowly and may even stop it from growing.
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Why does Snake Plant Get Overwatered?
Snake plant gets overwatered mainly because of using too much water or watering the Plant frequently. But other factors may cause overwatering to snake plants, such as using a pot without drainage holes or soil that does not drain well.
If you use too much water on your snake plant, it can cause it to become waterlogged. This means that there is too much water in the Plant’s roots, and it can’t absorb enough oxygen. The Plant may start to wilt, its leaves may turn yellow, and it may eventually die.
Watering your snake plant frequently can cause overwatering because the water can build up and cause the Plant to become waterlogged. The roots can also become oversaturated and begin to rot. This can also lead to fungal growth and pest infestations.
Inappropriate soil can cause overwatering if it does not allow enough water to drain. This can lead to soggy roots and eventually kill the Plant.
Finally, the pot can also cause overwatering if it is bigger than the Plant or if it does not have drainage holes. For example, if the pot is more significant than the Plant, it will take up more water than it needs, and the extra water will sit in the bottom of the pot and cause the roots to rot.
Also, when a pot does not have drainage holes, the water has nowhere to go when it is poured into the pool. The water will sit in the bottom of the pot and can cause the roots to rot. Over time, this can lead to plant death.
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